City opts to reboot hunt for manager

Silva not a fan of decision; Holman, Zapien argue it's a necessary step

STOCKTON - Mayor Anthony Silva and at least two members of the City Council can't agree on how to jump-start Stockton's search for its next city manager.

Comment

By Scott Smith

recordnet.com

By Scott Smith

Posted Nov. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Scott Smith
Posted Nov. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - Mayor Anthony Silva and at least two members of the City Council can't agree on how to jump-start Stockton's search for its next city manager.

The council, after a failed attempt last week to hire a replacement for retired City Manager Bob Deis, formally announced Thursday that Stockton will start its nationwide search from scratch.

But Silva balked, saying that in total 63 people applied in the first round, and some of them were "pretty good candidates." There's no need to start anew, he said.

"Instead of moving two steps forward, we are moving three steps back," said Silva, calling a new effort a waste of taxpayers' money and a potential delay of six months.

Deis, who retired Oct. 31, managed the city through three years of its financial recovery, including the plunge into bankruptcy. Deputy City Manager Kurt Wilson is filling that role in the interim.

The search began this summer, and culminated recently when the council offered Coachella City Manager David Garcia the job. He withdrew in the middle of confidential contract negotiations.

Silva had released Garcia's name before the deal was finalized, revealing that Garcia had left two previous cities under controversy. Garcia reportedly said that Stockton couldn't pay him enough.

On Tuesday, the City Council met behind closed doors to decide how to resume. On Thursday, the city announced it was reopening the search.

Councilman Elbert Holman said he was surprised to hear Silva's opposition.

The city needs to press restart, Holman said, because Stockton today is a different place from when it launched the process just three months ago. Most notably, voters Nov. 5 approved Measure A, putting another $28 million in the city's bank account each year to hire more police and bring Stockton out of bankruptcy, he said.

"A few more dynamics have changed that might draw better candidates forward," Holman said. "When we first did the recruitment, things were still up in the air."

It remains unclear if the next go-around will include Bill Mathis, a Napa-based headhunter who netted Garcia. The council hired Mathis in August for $23,475.

City spokeswoman Connie Cochran said the recruiter is one of the details that have yet to be finalized.

Silva declined to comment on Mathis' potential role. The mayor promised to comment more today on the search, after consulting with his advisers.

Next time, Silva wishes to exclude city department heads from the interview process.

He doesn't want them to have a say in hiring their own boss, Silva said.

"I'm not in favor of spending any more money," Silva said. "Just because we just won $28 million a year doesn't mean we can return to the same spending habits that this city has had in the past."

Councilman Moses Zapien, who also wishes to start the search fresh, said this is one of the most important decisions the council will make. The next city manager's influence on Stockton will be felt for decades, he said.

"This process does not deserve to be rushed," Zapien said. "One would think that the mayor had learned the lesson of patience judging from his inappropriate and premature announcement last time around."